Government in Southwest Asia

Question 1

Autocracy

Answer 1

A type of government in which the ruler has absolute or total power. They have power to do whatever they wish, and can make and enforce their own laws.

Question 2

Democracy

Answer 2

A form of government in which the citizens of a country have the power in choosing their leader.

Question 3

Head of Government

Answer 3

The person in charge of the day to day operations/business of the government, and running the country.

Question 4

Head of State

Answer 4

The chief public representative of a country (the face of a country.) Example: The President or a Monarch. They may or may not be the Head of Government as well, depending on the country.

Question 5

Legislature

Answer 5

The branch of government that is responsible for the making and carrying out of the laws.

Question 6

Sharia Law

Answer 6

Laws based on the teachings of the Quran.

Question 7

Parliamentary Democracy

Answer 7

The citizens of the country elect representatives from a political party that best represents their views and ideals. The majority party (has the most seats) then chooses the Prime Minister (Head of Government) out of their party.

Question 8

Presidential Democracy

Answer 8

A form of government in which the citizens elect the President to be the Head of Government separately from the legislatire.

Question 9

Oligarchy

Answer 9

A political party or a small group that makes all of the major governmental decisions. The term Oligarchy means “to rule by few.”

Question 10

What are two types of autocracies

Answer 10

1. Absolute Monarchy
2. Dictatorship

Question 11

What are two types of democracies:

Answer 11

1. Presidential
2. Parliamentary

Question 12

How are democracies and autocracies different?

Answer 12

In a democracy, the citizens are able to vote on governmental matters and for their leaders, while in an autocracy, the ruler has absolute power and makes all the governmental decisions.

Question 13

What is special about Turkey’s government? How has it changed?

Answer 13

Turkey’s government is a Presidential Democracy, but the President has absolute power over the executive branch. Turkey’s government was a Parliamentary Democracy up until 2017 when they transitioned to a Presidential Democracy, and they held an election for a President in 2018.

Question 14

What kind of rights do people have in Saudi Arabia?

Answer 14

The citizens of Saudi Arabia have very limited/few rights. Saudi Arabia is often criticized for violation of human rights. The citizens have very few freedoms, and have very little opportunity to participate in their government. Women have their rights limited even further, and the media is heavily censored. `

Question 15

How are the leaders chosen in Israel? Turkey? Saudi Arabia?

Answer 15

In Israel, citizens vote for representatives in the Knesset. Then the President nominates a member of the Knesset, who is usually the leader of the majority party.

In Turkey, the citizens vote for their President separately from their legislature.

In Saudi Arabia, the position is hereditary meaning that the next leader comes from royal family, and that the citizens get no input on what leader is chosen next.